Alan Williams enters his 10th season as defensive backs coach of the Colts. Williams joined Indianapolis from Tampa Bay, where he served in 2001 as a defensive assistant.

BIO

Alan Williams enters his 10th season as defensive backs coach of the Colts. Williams joined Indianapolis from Tampa Bay, where he served in 2001 as a defensive assistant.

In 2010, only Antoine Bethea opened every game, and the club fought injuries by using nine different starting lineups in the secondary, none for more than four consecutive games. Kelvin Hayden (11 games), Jerraud Powers (10), Melvin Bullitt (4) and Bob Sanders (1) had limited appearances, while Aaron Francisco started 12 games after joining the club in week five. Bethea led the club with 106 tackles, while Jacob Lacey (61), Hayden (61, two interceptions for scores) and Powers (53, two interceptions) were productive. Francisco had 56 stops and two interceptions. Eleven different players in the secondary had defensive tackles. The play of the secondary, under Williams’ tutelage, is a contributing factor to nine consecutive playoff appearances for Indianapolis, a streak that ties the longest in NFL history.

In 2009, Bethea was the only defender who opened 16 games. He earned a second Pro Bowl bid and topped the team in tackles (120) and interceptions (4). Bullitt (12), Powers (12) and Lacey (9) started the majority of the outings, while Hayden (eight starts), Marlin Jackson (four games) and Sanders (two starts) had injury-interrupted seasons. Bullitt (82), Lacey (78) and Powers (71) ranked among the club’s leading tacklers. Lacey’s three interceptions included a scoring return, and seven DBs had interceptions for the club. Hayden, Bethea and Powers each had post-season interceptions. Lacey was tabbed for the PFW/PFWA and Sporting News NFL All-Rookie Teams. In 2008, the club set an NFL mark by allowing only six touchdown passes, the lowest 16-game total in league history (9, Denver, 1978; Pittsburgh, 1980). The defense ranked 3rd in NFL red zone efficiency in touchdowns allowed. Bethea (126) and Bullitt (4) topped the team in tackles and interceptions. The defensive backs had all of the club’s 15 interceptions. In 2007, Indianapolis ranked 3rd in the NFL in total defense, marking the club’s highest defensive ranking since 1971. The Colts yielded 279.7 yards per game, the lowest seasonal total since 1971. Indianapolis ranked 1st in NFL scoring defense, its best showing since 2005 (2nd), and 262 points allowed marked the 2nd-fewest by the club in a 16-game season (247, 2005). The Colts had 22 interceptions to rank T2nd in the league, while producing the best seasonal total since 1979 (23). Sanders and Bethea earned Pro Bowl bids, while Sanders was named Associated Press NFL Defensive Player-of-the-Year, the first Colts player ever to earn the honor. Williams has overseen the development of draft picks Sanders (D2-04), Jason David (D4-04), Jackson (D1-05), Hayden (D2-05), Matt Giordano (D4b-05), Tim Jennings (D2-06), Donald Strickland (D3-03), Mike Doss (D2-03), Bethea (D6b-06) and Powers (D3-09). He has helped shape the careers of Bullitt and Lacey. In 2006, Bethea was a 14-game rookie starter who ranked 3rd on the club with 105 tackles. He added one regular-season interception and two in the playoffs, along with 14 tackles. The secondary produced eleven of the club’s 15 regular-season interceptions, then had five in the playoffs. Jackson’s last-minute theft secured the AFC Championship Game victory over New England, and Hayden’s 56t interception vs. Chicago provided the final points in Super Bowl XLI. Sanders added a fourth-quarter interception against Chicago to help end the contest. In 2005, the secondary had nine of the club’s 18 interceptions, and the interception total exceeded the number of touchdown passes allowed (17), a first for the club since 1992. Sanders earned Pro Bowl honors in his second season, becoming the club’s first Pro Bowl defensive back since Jerry Logan and Rick Volk in 1971. Five different defensive backs pirated passes. In 2004, six defensive backs were among the eleven Colts to produce interceptions. David (4), Nick Harper (3) and Doss (2) helped the club total 19 interceptions. The secondary had the club’s three defensive touchdowns and helped the club amass a +19 turnover ratio, the best in the team’s Indianapolis era.

Williams served with Tampa Bay in 2001. He worked on a defensive staff that included defensive backs coach Mike Tomlin and coordinator Monte Kiffin. He helped tutor a prominent secondary that intercepted 28 passes to help the club earn a playoff berth. Ronde Barber (10) and Donnie Abraham (6) topped the club, and John Lynch had three interceptions. Williams coached running backs at William & Mary, his alma mater, in 1996-97 and defensive backs in 1998-2000. Williams helped guide RB-Alvin Porch to consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons and two all-conference awards. Williams later tutored three defensive backs to all-conference recognition. Williams joined William & Mary from Norview High School, where he worked from 1992-95 as assistant head coach for running backs and defensive backs. Williams graduated from William & Mary in 1992 after gaining 2,559 yards total offense (1,220 rushing and 1,331 receiving) from 1988-91. In 1991, he led the team in receptions (57-598) and was second in rushing (104-439). Williams owns the school’s single-game post-season record with four touchdowns (three rushing/one receiving) against Massachusetts in the Division 1-AA playoffs.

Williams was born on November 4, 1969 in Norfolk, Va. Williams and his wife, Lisa, have three children, Christian, Solomon and Nathan.